Short Summary

Lebanese President-elect Elias Sarkis has presented Egyptian President Anwar Sadat with a plan for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon.

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Lebanese President-elect Elias Sarkis has presented Egyptian President Anwar Sadat with a plan for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon.

SYNOPSIS: Mr. Sarkis arrived in Cairo on Saturday (18 September) to an elaborate ceremonial welcome as Egyptians, trying to boost their role in the quest for peace in Lebanon, sought to impress their visitor. The 52-year-old Christian banker later met President Sadat at Ismailia, beside the Suex Canal. Their meeting lasted three house during which President with the ceasefire plan by Mr. Sarkis. Without giving details, the Cairo newspaper, Al Ahram, said the plan was encouraging. Within recent weeks, Egypt has become the centre of new efforts to bring peace back to Lebanon, after 17 months of civil war.

Mr. Sarkis' brief visit to cairo came in the middle of talks he was having in Shtoura, East Lebanon, with Syrian and Palestinian leaders. The Palestinians have long demanded that Syrian troops occupying roughly 60 per cent of Lebanese territory should pull out. Egypt is also sharply critical of Syrian policies in Lebanon.

According to foreign observers quoted by Reuters, President Sadat may try to impress Mr. Sarkis of Egypt's importance as a counterbalance to Syria when he takes power from President Suleiman Franjieh on Thursday (23 September). At the airport to greet Mr. Sarkis on his arrival were some of the Lebanese leaders who had been visiting Cairo, including Premier Rashig Karami. Mr. Sarkis paid scant attention to them as he was welcomed by Egyptian Vice-President Hosni Mubarke. Mr. Karami's power was sharply reduced when outgoing President Franjieh reshuffled the Lebanese cabinet and stripped him of his finance and defence portfolios.